Interview questions the common job interview questions in Australia, with answers

Which interview questions do Australian employers ask?

Most job interviews in Australia move through three stages: a short recruiter or HR screen, a longer interview (often a panel of two or three people), and a few closing questions about money, timing and referees. Each stage has its own set of questions. Prepare for the stage you are at and you will rarely be caught out.

Below are the job interview questions you are most likely to hear at each stage, why the employer asks them and an example answer to adapt. Then: the questions that are unique to hiring in Australia, what an employer must not treat you differently for, and the questions to ask at the end.

Common interview questions in the recruiter screen

The first call is usually a short one with an agency recruiter or someone from HR. They are checking that you are real, available and in the right range before they put you in front of the hiring manager. Keep answers short and friendly.

1. "Tell me about yourself."

Why they ask: to hear a quick summary and check that you can explain your own career.

Example (illustration): "I'm an accounts payable officer with four years at a Melbourne logistics company. I look after about 300 supplier invoices a week and I moved our team onto a new approval system last year. I'm after a role with more month-end and reconciliation work, which is why this one caught my eye."

Keep it under a minute. Our full guide: tell me about yourself, with Australian examples.

2. "Why are you looking to move?"

Why they ask: to check there is no problem you are running from, and that this role fixes what you want fixed.

Example (illustration): "I've learnt a lot where I am, but the next step up isn't there for a while. This role gives me the team lead work I've been building towards."

Talk about what you want next, never about a bad manager.

3. "What do you know about the role?"

Why they ask: to see whether you read the ad or applied to fifty jobs that morning.

Example (illustration): "It's a customer service lead role covering the Brisbane and Gold Coast stores, with rostering and complaints as the main parts. That lines up with what I've done for the past two years."

4. "What are your salary expectations?"

Why they ask: to make sure you are in the budget before anyone spends time on a second round.

Example (illustration): "Based on the ad and similar roles on SEEK, I'm looking at a base in the range of [your range], plus super. I'm flexible for the right role, and I'd like to hear the range you have in mind."

Say clearly whether your number is base or includes super, because recruiters quote both. The salary expectations answer generator helps you word it.

Job interview questions in the main interview

This is the longer interview with the hiring manager, often with one or two others on a panel. The Australian Public Service Commission explains that panels use "behavioural-based questions and/or hypothetical scenario questions", built from the job description. Private employers do the same. Expect these:

5. "Tell us about a time you dealt with a difficult customer."

Why they ask: past behaviour is the best guide they have to how you will act in their job.

Example (illustration): "At a supermarket service desk a customer was upset about a refund we couldn't give. I listened without cutting in, explained what I could do, and offered a store credit and a call to the supplier. He left calm and later wrote a thank-you note to the store manager."

Use the STAR shape: situation, task, action, result. Our STAR interview questions guide has ten full examples.

6. "What would you do if two managers gave you urgent work at the same time?"

Why they ask: a hypothetical scenario question: they want your thinking, not a war story.

Example (illustration): "I'd check the deadlines with both, tell them honestly I can't do both by the same time, and ask them to agree the order, or ask my own manager to decide. Then I'd confirm it in a short email so nobody is surprised."

7. "What are your strengths?"

Why they ask: to see if you know what you are good at and whether it matches the role.

Example (illustration): "I'm very organised and calm under pressure. During end of financial year I ran our team's checklist and we lodged everything early for the first time."

Pick two that the ad names and give proof for each.

8. "What is your biggest weakness?"

Why they ask: to test honesty and whether you work on yourself.

Example (illustration): "I used to say yes to every request and then work late to catch up. Now I check my week before I agree to something and offer a realistic date. It's made my deadlines far more reliable."

More on this: what is your weakness.

9. "Why do you want to work here?"

Why they ask: to see if you chose them on purpose.

Example (illustration): "I've followed your move into regional health services in WA, and the role sits right in the middle of that. I want to work somewhere I can see the results in the community."

Use something from their website, annual report or recent news. The Queensland Government's interview tips suggest exactly that research.

10. "Why should we hire you?"

Why they ask: they want your case in one go: what they need, your proof, what you add.

Example (illustration): "You need someone who can run payroll for a few hundred staff across awards without errors. I've done that for three years at a Sydney hospitality group and I picked up the award changes before each pay run."

Full guide: why should we hire you.

Closing questions

11. "When could you start?"

Why they ask: they are planning around a date, often a deadline of their own.

Example (illustration): "My contract has a four-week notice period, so I could start on [date]. If you need someone earlier I can ask my manager about finishing sooner."

Check your contract or award for the real notice period before you answer.

12. "Are you interviewing anywhere else?"

Why they ask: to judge how fast they need to move.

Example (illustration): "I'm in the final stage with one other company, but this role is my first choice because of the project work."

Be honest, but you do not need to name the other employer.

13. "Do you have any questions for us?"

Why they ask: to see if you are curious and serious about the job.

Example (illustration): "What would success look like in the first three months, and what is the biggest challenge the team has right now?"

Always have two or three ready. See the list below.

Interview questions only Australian employers ask

These come up here more than in other countries, and newcomers are sometimes caught off guard by them.

"Do you have full working rights in Australia?"

Employers check your right to work, and Careers Vic lists "your eligibility to work in Australia" among the pre-employment checks for Victorian public sector roles. Answer plainly: "Yes, I'm a permanent resident" or "I'm on a [visa type] that allows full-time work until [date]." If you hold a visa, know its conditions before the call.

"Can you give us two referees?"

Reference checks are standard. The APSC notes that "one of your referees will be a current or recent supervisor". Ask your referees first, tell them about the role, and have names, titles and phone numbers ready.

"Is that base or package?"

Salary in Australia is often quoted either as base salary or as a total package that includes super. If they ask, give the same type of figure they used, and say which one you mean.

"Are you happy to do a police check?"

Many roles in health, education, aged care, government and finance need one, and some need a Working with Children Check. Say yes if you can, and ask how long the check usually takes.

What an employer must not hold against you

Under the Fair Work Act, it is against the law to take "adverse action" against someone for a prohibited reason, and the Fair Work Commission lists "not being hired" as one form of adverse action. Prospective employees, meaning job applicants, are protected too.

Workplace discrimination is a prohibited reason, "for example, because of race, sex, age, disability, family or carer's responsibilities, pregnancy, religion or other protected attributes". The full list is on the Fair Work Ombudsman's website.

So if an interviewer asks whether you plan to have children, how old you are or what religion you follow, you do not have to answer. A calm reply works: "Can I ask how that relates to the role?" or "That won't affect my ability to do the job. Can I tell you about my experience with X instead?"

Not every difference in treatment is discrimination. The Commission gives examples of legitimate reasons, such as not hiring someone without a driver's licence when the job needs driving. If you think you were turned down for a prohibited reason, the Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman explain your options. This article is general information, not legal advice.

The same idea works the other way: the Queensland Government's interview tips advise candidates themselves not to bring up politics, religion, race or marital status in an interview.

Good questions to ask at the end

The Queensland Government suggests asking two or three questions at the end and restating your strengths and interest. Some that work well here:

• "What does a normal week look like in this role?"
• "How does the team split time between the office and working from home?"
• "What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?"
• "Is there anything in my background you'd like me to explain further?"

More ideas: interview questions to ask the employer.

How to practise these interview questions

Say each answer out loud, not just in your head. The Queensland guide suggests answers of around two minutes, so time yourself. Then ask a friend to play the panel and throw in a follow-up or two.

The free AI mock interview reads questions for your role aloud in English, asks follow-ups and scores your pace and structure. For the real video interview, the ClapAssist AI interview assistant shows answer prompts from your own resume on Zoom, Teams or Google Meet. The app understands English and many other languages. Check first that the employer allows AI help; some do not.

Next: job interview tips for Australia.